Have a Safe Halloween!

According to a nine year study, there are many visits to the ER on Halloween, and one of the top reasons is finger/ hand injuries. Fully 1/3 of these are lacerations. What can you do to prevent some of these injuries?  For starters, don't let children carve pumpkins. Adults who carve pumpkins should use specially designed carving knives (not kitchen knives). Finally, don't leave carving tools anywhere within reach of quick little kidlet hands.

Pumpkin carving isn't the only hazard of Halloween; read on to learn how to have a fun and safe Halloween.

Keeping Your Kids Safe For Halloween:

1. Make sure your child's costume is safe. If they make it themself, make sure no aspect of it is harmful...no lead paint is used, no sharp edges jut out anywhere, there are holes to see and breath through if they cover their face, and make sure it's visible in the dark (even if you or another adult are with them while trick or treating). If you bought the costumes, check it for safety also...some of those props in the costume stores can be sharp or hazardous!

2. If your children want to go trick or treating, go with them. If they are old enough to not need you with them, then they are too old to go trick or treating anyway :) so don't let them use that argument. It gets dark early this time of year. Preferably only go to the homes of people you know and can trust, but if you don't know anyone in the area and are visiting neighbors, stick to going to homes that are well lit and have an open gate. It goes without saying that your kids should not eat any items that aren't packaged (such as loose, unwrapped candy, fruit, etc). Go through their entire goody bag before they are allowed to eat anything from it, and throw out anything that looks even remotely suspicious.

3. If you decorate your home (especially if you use pumpkins with candles) be sure that the decorations are not close to trick or treaters who walk up your walkway and on to your porch, lest their costume catch fire or they trip over something (it's dark, they come in droves, and their peripheral vision is often blocked by masks). It may even be better to not leave decorations outdoors that can be potentially dangerous (put them inside your window on the windowsill).

4. If your children go to a Halloween party, feel free to stay on as a chaperone (the host may even appreciate the help). If your children are going out with another adult to trick or treat, make sure they know to stay close to the adult, to not run off anywhere at any time, to avoid strangers or anyone they don't recognize (even if they are dressed as their favorite character), and to not take candy from anyone in a car or on the street.

5. Stay on the *other* side of the road when egg'ers, tp'ers, or groups of teens (or adults) in any way vandalizing are roaming the streets (and start heading the other way, keeping your children very close by). Keep a cell phone with you to alert the police (vandalizing is illegal). Don't confront anyone, even if you know the owner of the car they are vandalizing- just call the police right away and keep yourself and your children safe. It's also not a bad idea to avoid homes with barking dogs- why take a chance? The dogs may see children approaching their home as a threat. 

6. Consider hosting a Halloween party yourself, complete with the best aspects of Halloween- candy, games, costume contest, spooky decorations, maybe some activities such as decorating their own halloween cookies or a ghost pinata. This way all the children are safe and indoors, yet still have lots of fun.

7. Offer safe, wrapped treats for trick or treaters who visit your home, preferably treats that are somewhat healthy (I know, it's candy!) and not likely to be choking hazards. Treats like twizzlers, bite-sized chocolates, etc tend to be a safe way to go, and children like these.

8. Have flashlights, a fully charged cell phone, and emergency numbers at hand before the night begins, just in case.